After an unexpected, turn-around year, my Minnesota Twins are going to the playoffs! After winning only 59 games last season, the Twins are the first team in Major League history to make the postseason one season after losing 100 or more games.

I’ve always been a big baseball fan and get my love for the game from my Dad. I grew up watching the Twins on TV and going to games at the Metrodome with him. It was always a special time with my Dad and I’m so glad we’ve continued the tradition throughout my life.

After so much snow caused the Metrodome roof to collapse (only in Minnesota!), the Twins got a new beautiful stadium, Target Field, in 2010. I might be biased, but it’s my favorite ballpark (AT&T Park is a close second).

The Twins will most likely play the Yankees in the AL wild-card game next Tuesday. As a Twins fan, your heart sinks when you hear this. The Yankees have eliminated Minnesota four times in the postseason since 2003. So will this be the Twins year? I think it could be. Here’s why:

The team is young, talented and confident. Of the current 34 players on their roster, 23 of them are 28 years old or younger. The Twins play just three positional regulars older than 30 – including my favorite player, Joe Mauer. (Sidenote – I grew up thinking Joe Mauer and I would get married. Although that didn’t happen, he did name of his twin girls Emily, after me I presume.)

They are on a winning spree – The Twins are 33-12 since August 1.

New closer, Matt Belisle, has converted eight of 10 save chances with a 2.70 ERA, while holding hitters to a .172 batting average across 16 2/3 innings since Kintzler was traded.

Veteran batters peaked after the Twins traded Garcia and Kintzler. Dozier has 16 home runs, 53 runs, 38 RBIs and a .964 OPS since August 1. Mauer bat .341/.399/.459 in 228 plate appearances.

I was too young to remember the Twins in the 1991 World Series, so I’m hoping 2017 is their year, and truly a cinderella story!